DISCIPLINE AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS

by NDUNUJU ADIELE    February 17, 2009

Discipline is a most for every organization that wants to move forward. It is very essential for the
smooth running of any firm. It is also very important for peace and harmony in an organization.
Peace between employees, customers and clients. It is always necessary for discipline to be
instilled in employees to get the best out of your workforce. Before I go on with why we should
have discipline and disciplinary actions incase of defaulters, its right to find out what discipline
is. Discipline can be seen or defined as a force that prompts individuals, organizations, nation etc
to observe rules and regulations stipulated which are deemed necessary for the effective and
efficient running of the group, organization or nation. In this article discipline in firms can be
seen as an orderly conduct by employees of an organization to adhere to the rules and regulations
as well as policies guiding the activities and running of the organization.

How can one instill discipline in organization?

 Rules and regulations should be clearly stated: For discipline to be instilled in employees
there should be clear rules and regulations that stipulates what is expected of each
employee and what is not expected of them. The employee handbook for instance should
be clear in the dos and don’ts of the firm.
 The rules and regulations should be constantly updated and reviewed. This will make it
possible to do away with rules that are no more necessary and addition of new ones that
are needed.
 There should be no discrimination in enforcing rules and regulations. To make sure that
there is discipline in an organization there should be a general rule for every defaulter.
What ever applies to A when he defaults should also be applicable to B.
 Another important thing is that things that will prevent employees from getting involved
in indiscipline should be discouraged and prevented.
 There should be proper communication of the rules concerning discipline in the firm.
These rules should be written in the employee handbook and also put in notice boards. By
so doing no employee can say he or she is not aware of the rules.
 Disciplinary actions should be in such a way that defaulters will not want to be
disciplined a second time after defaulting for a first time.

Causes of indiscipline in firms:

 
            Despite the fact that most firms have laid down rules and regulations, and disciplinary
actions taken against defaulters, still indiscipline persists. The following are causes of
indiscipline in firms;

 Favoritism: Most managers and discipline enforcers in firms favour some staff in their
decision making. There are cases where some staff will commit and offence and will not
be punished for it while if it is another person he goes in for it. When such a fellow
knows that he will not be punished for an offence, he goes own to commit more offense.
 Lack of Communication: If the laws and rules governing the employment of staff is not
clearly communicated or is not communicated at all, there is bound to be several cases of
indiscipline in that organization.
 Lack of leadership: For every department, there should be a leader who is to supervise the
activities of that department. He monitors and instills discipline in his subordinates.
Where there is no one like that to lead and control the others, indiscipline abounds.
 Low morale and Motivation among staff. When employees are not motivated and their
morale is low, they tend to work haphazardly. This will affect their discipline and way of
work.
 Bad Habit: Some employees have bad habits inbuilt in them that they may or may not be
able to change. Once some one for instance has formed the habit of coming to work late,
it will take termination of his appointment atimes for h to change.  

Disciplinary Actions in firm:

While disciplining an employee, it is always important to make sure that the disciplinary
action meted out to the offender is always commensurate to the offence committed. Like
earlier said too, it is important to mete out the same punishment to the same category of
offenders. Another important thing in punishing offenders is that the person must be given
the opportunity to be heard. He must explain reasons for his action before a decision is taken
against him. Certain mild offences should also be punished with mild penalties. Some
disciplinary actions in firms include;

Oral warning; when an offence is not that serious or when an offender is

a first offender, he can be given oral warning. The human resources person invites
him, talks to him, cautions him and warns him to desist from such actions in the
future.
 

Written warning: When the offence committed by the employee is not an

offence that you can just warn him verbally and let him go, he is issued a query. He
replies the query and explains reasons for his action. The query and his response are
filed in the staff file for future references. After considering his response, a written
warning also is issued to him and a copy of the warning letter also documented in the
staff file.

Loss of entitlement: Some indiscipline is cautioned by denying the

offender his or her entitlement as a reprimand for the action. In some cases, the
offender may not be paid any allowance or bonus due to him to punish him for an
offence or indiscipline committed.

Suspension: If an offence is strong, they employee may be suspended

without pay. Depending on the level of offence the suspension may take up to two
months or more without pay.

Demotion: A staff can be demoted from his position because of

indiscipline. If a manager for instance keeps on coming to work late, how will he lead
and control his subordinates? The best thing is to demote him if he has been advised
about it and he fells to change.

Termination of appointment: When an employee commits an offence that

the company cannot condone, his appointment may be terminated.

Dismissal: This is the strongest action that can be carried out on an

offender. When an employee gets involved in fraud, stealing, illegal business etc the
firm may have no other option left than to dismiss him out rightly.

 
Disciplinary action is always carried out in sequence. For instance if one is a first offender, and
the offence is not so bad, he can be warned verbally. Then if he commits another offence, he is
queried and probably suspended from duty without pay. If another offence is committed by the
same staff, his appointment may be terminated. On the other hand when a staff commits a
grievous offence like fraud, the punishment is summary dismissal.

Corruption in Nigeria
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Political corruption is not a recent phenomenon that pervades the Nigerian state. Since the
creation of modern public administration in the country, there have been cases of official misuse
of resources for personal enrichment.[1] The rise of public administration and the discovery of oil
and natural gas are two major events seen to have led to a litany of ignoble corrupt practices in
the country. Over the years, the country has seen its wealth withered with little to show in living
conditions of the common man. A Nigerian political leader, Obafemi Awolowo raised a salient
issue when he said, since independence, our governments have been a matter of few holding the
cow for the strongest and most cunning to milk, Under those circumstances everybody runs over
everybody to make good at the expense of others.[2] Characteristically, apologists for the failings
of African governments have blamed colonialism for the pervasive corruption. According to this
view, the nation's colonial history may have restricted any early influence in an ethical
revolution. Throughout the colonial period, most Nigerians were stuck in ignorance and poverty.
The trappings of flash cars, houses and success of the colonists may influence the poor to see the
colonist as symbols of success and to emulate the colonists in different political ways.
Involvement in the agenda of colonial rule may also inhibit idealism in the early stage of the
nascent nation's development. A view commonly held during the colonial days was that the
colonists property (cars,houses,farms etc.) is not "our" property. Thus vandalism and looting of
public property was not seen as a crime against society. This view is what has degenerated into
the more recent disregard for public property and lack of public trust and concern for public
goods as a collective national property. [3]

Contents
[hide]
 1 Causes
 2 History and Cases
o 2.1 Pre-Independence and the First Republic
o 2.2 Gowon Administration
o 2.3 Shagari Administration
o 2.4 Buhari Administration
o 2.5 Babangida Administration
o 2.6 Abacha Administration
 3 Public institutions perceived as corrupt
 4 See also
 5 References

[edit] Causes
Main article: Petroleum in Nigeria

Some writers have posited about the different potential causes of flagrant and pecunious graft
that exists in the country: many blame greed and ostentatious lifestyle as a potential root cause of
corruption. To some, societies in love with ostentatious lifestyle may delve into corrupt practices
to feed the lifestyle and also embrace a style of public sleaze and lack of decorum. The customs
and attitudes of the society may also be a contributing factor. Gift giving as expressions of
loyalty or tributes to traditional rulers may be fabrics of the society. Also, a political environment
that excludes favors towards elites or wealthy citizens may also be influenced by corruption.
Wealthy elites may resort to sleaze in order to gain power and protect their interest. However, the
bottom line surmised from the views of most Nigerians is that corruption is a problem that has to
be rooted out. Other causes of corruption are ethnicity and pressures on officials by friends and
kinsmen. Friends and kinsmen seeking favor from officials may impose difficult strains on the
ethical disposition of the official. Many kinsmen may see a government official as holding
necessary avenues for their personal survival or gain.[4] A culmination of use of official resources
for private gain may lead to further pressures on incoming officials from other kinsmen.
However, the fact is, the importation of modern rules on inter-ethnic political relationships is a
recent colonial and western initiative that may take time to become the norm, deep allegiance to
other ethnic groups for administrative decisions early on was sometimes viewed suspiciously,
and an early institutionalization of a unitary system in the country, may also have led to a further
familiar groupings induced corruption. Nevertheless, a modern practical approach to leadership
and relationships has gradually taken a prominent role in the political process. The necessity for
practical inter-depedence and cooperation is at the forefront of yearnings for good governance in
the country.[5]

[edit] History and Cases

[edit] Pre-Independence and the First Republic
Corruption, though prevalent, was kept at manageable levels during the First Republic .[6] [7]
However, the cases of corruption during the period were sometimes clouded by political
infighting.

 Azikiwe was the first major political figure investigated for questionable practices. In
1944, a firm belonging to Azikiwe and family bought a Bank in Lagos. The bank was
procured to strengthen local control of the financial industry. Albeit, a report about
transactions carried out by the bank showed though Azikiwe had resigned as chairman of
the bank, the current chairman was an agent of his. The report wrote that most of the
paid-up capital of the African Continental Bank were from the Eastern Regional
Financial Corporation.
 In western Nigeria , politician Adegoke Adelabu was investigated following charges of
political corruption leveled against him by the opposition. The report led to demand for
his resignation as district council head.
 In the Northern region, against the backdrop of corruption allegations leveled against
some native authority officials in Bornu. The Northern Government enacted the
Customary Presents order to forestall any further breach of regulations. Later on, it was
the British administration that was accused of corrupt practices in the results of elections
which enthroned a Fulani political leadership in Kano, reports later linking the British
authorities to electoral irregularities were discovered.[8]

[edit] Gowon Administration

Corruption for the most part of Gowon's administration was kept away from public view until
1975. However, some informed officials voiced concerns, Gowon critics labeled his governors as
misguided individuals acting like lords overseeing their personal fiefdom. He was viewed as
timid, in terms of being decisive against corrupt elements in his government.

 In 1975, a corruption scandal surrounding the importation of cement engulfed his

administration. Many officials of the defense ministry and the central bank of Nigeria
where involved in the scandal. Officials were later accused of falsifying ships manifest
and inflating the amount of cement to be purchased.[9]
 During the administration, two major individuals from the middle belt of the country
were accused of corruption. The Nigeria government controlled newspapers: the Daily
Times and the New Nigerian gave great publicity to denunciations of the administration
of Gomwalk, and Federal Commissioner Joseph Tarka by the two critics. A situation
which may signal a cause for exigent action on corruption.[10]
 In 1975, the administration of Murtala Mohammed later went on and made reformist
changes. After a coup putsch brought him into power, the government sacked a large
number of government officials and civil servants, many of whom had been criticized for
the misuse of power they wielded under the largely uneducated military of Gowon.[11]

[edit] Shagari Administration

Corruption was deemed pervasive during the administration of Shagari.

  A few federal buildings mysteriously went on fire after investigators started probe on the
finances of the officials working in the buildings.[12]
 Late 1985, investigations into the collapse of the defunct Johnson Mathey Bank of
London shed some light on some of the abuses carried on during the second republic. The
bank acted as a conduit to transfer hard currency for some party members in Nigeria . A
few leading officials and politicians had amassed large amounts of money. They sought
to transfer the money out of the country with the help of Asian importers by issuing
import licenses.[13]
 In 1981, a Rice shortage, led to accusations of corruption against the NPN government.
The shortages and subsequent allegations were precipitated, by protectionism. After his
election the Nigerian government decided to protect the local rice farmer from imported
commodities. A licensing system was created to limit the amount of rice import.
However, accusations of favoritism and government supported speculation was leveled
against many officials.[14]

[edit] Buhari Administration

 In 1985, a cross section of political gladiators were convicted of different corrupt

practices under the government of General Buhari. However, the administration itself
was involved in a few instances of lapsed ethical judgment. It is on record that the
General himself was on his way to removing a Nigerian colonel from the army before his
exit from power, though the removal may signal a hard-line on corruption, it is a far cry
from the 10-22 years of imprisonment, politicians under Shagari were sentenced to.

[edit] Babangida Administration

The regime of general Babangida,actually is seen as the body that legalized corruption,his
administration refused to give account of the gulf war windfall,which is estimated to be $12.4
billion,he rigged the only successful election in the history of Nigeria in June 12 1993,he lives in
a very exquisite mansion in his home state(Niger-state)in the Northern part of the country.

[edit] Abacha Administration

The death of the general Sani Abacha revealed the global nature of graft. French investigations
of bribes paid to government officials to ease the award of a gas plant construction in Nigeria
revealed the global level of official graft in the country. The investigations led to the freezing of
accounts containing about $100 million United States dollars.[15]

 In 2000, two years after his death, a Swiss banking commission report indicted Swiss
banks for failing to follow compliance process in allowing family and friends of Abacha
access to accounts and depositing amounts totaling $600 million US dollars into the
accounts. The same year, a total of more than $1 billion US dollars were found in various
accounts throughout Europe.[16]

[edit] Public institutions perceived as corrupt

The following list contains the institutions perceived as the most corrupt. It is culled from the
Nigeria Survey and Corruption Survey Study, Final Report (June 2003) Institute for
Development Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (IDR, ABU Zaria)[17]

Nigeria (as of 2003)

Rating Institution
1 Nigerian Police
2 Political Parties
3 National and State Assemblies
4 Local and Municipal Governments
5 Federal and State Executive Councils
6 Traffic police and FRSC
7 PHCN
Nigeria portal
 Corruption by country
 Nigeria :Corruption Perception Index

[2]

[edit] References
1. ^ The Storey Report. The Commission of Inquiry into the administration of Lagos Town
Council
2. ^ Africa, London , April 1979, p 25
3. ^ see Nigeria : Corruption Perception Index[1]
4. ^ Wraith, R, and E Simpkins , Corruption in Developing Countries. The Journal of
Modern African Affairs 1983
5. ^ Varda Eccker, On the Origins of Corruption: Irregular Incentives in Nigeria . The
Journal of Modern African Studies. Vol. 19, No. 1 Mar., 1981.
6. ^ Chinua Achebe. No Longer at ease New York , 1960
7. ^ Chinua Achebe, A Man of the People, New York , 1966
8. ^ Robert L. Tignor. Political Corruption in Nigeria before Independence , The Journal of
Modern African Studies > Vol. 31, No. 2 (Jun., 1993)
9. ^ Turner. The Nigerian Cement Racket, Africa Guide, 1976
10. ^ Keith Panter Brick. Soldiers and Oil: The Political Transformation of Nigeria , ISBN 0
714630985
11. ^ Olajide Aluko. Nigeria and Britain after Gowon, African Affairs. Vol. 76, No. 304 Jul.,
1977
12. ^ Leon Dash, Mysterious Fires Plague Nigerian Investigations, The Washington Post,
February 27, 1983
13. ^ "British banks linked to import swindles", The Globe and Mail ( Canada ), December
3, 1985
14. ^ JUAN de ONIS, "RICE SHORTAGE IN NIGERIA BRINGS CHARGES OF
CORRUPTION",The New York Times, January 18, 1981
15. ^ Hector Igbikiowubo, "TSKJ SAGA: SWISS GOVT FREEZES $ 100M ACCOUNTS",
Vanguard , Nigeria , December 6, 2004
16. ^ David Pallister, "Comment & Analysis: Pennies from heaven: Many of Nigeria's
missing millions were laundered through greedy banks in London ", The Guardian
( London ), September 7, 2000
17. ^ Reports & Statistics > Research Reports